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. Q&A: WSIS and WDR
. WDR Draft case studies online
. Shortlisted themes for WDR's Dialogue 2004
. IEEE Global Access Project
. New Latin American link for WDR and LIRNE.NET
. WDR/Intelecon News: Zimbabwe court overturns telecom order
. LINK Seminar on Convergence & New Media
. New Issue of South African Journal
. Change at infoDev
. European Media Technology and Everyday Life Network
. Radio, the Internet and Rural Development in Latin America
. TU Delft 7th annual conference
. Subscribing and unsubscribing
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Welcome to the first issue of the WDR e-Brief for 2004. The e-Brief is an occasional electronic bulletin from the World Dialogue on Regulation for Network Economies (WDR). The e-Brief keeps you informed of new documents, new projects and ongoing discussions on our website and it features information and comment of interest to the regulatory community. Please forward it to interested colleagues and let them know they can subscribe for free from the WDR website at http://www.regulateonline.org/ . There are now 1,364 subscribers. Subscribe from the site or by sending a message to
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Q&A: The WDR theme and the World Summit on the Information Society
In each WDR e-Brief we feature a question or comment posted to the Online Dialogue at http://www.regulateonline.org/dialogue/ and ask our research teams to comment. The featured question in this e-Brief comes from Louise Jeffries and asks about the implications of the recent WSIS for WDR. The answer is from WDR director, William Melody.
Question: The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) did not result in any actual commitments to undertake new investment in telecom network expansion in developing countries. What does this mean for WDR and its dialogue theme of Stimulating Investment in Network Development?
Answer: The WSIS was certainly a disappointment to those who expected to see investment commitments from developed countries and global corporations to overcome the digital divide. In fact, even in terms of participation it was not a world summit. Although 176 countries were represented, there were only 54 heads of state, and only one from an industrialized country, the President of Switzerland, the host country. Most national delegations, including the US, included neither corporate nor NGO representation.
WSIS was essentially a summit of those countries on the wrong side of the digital divide making declarations that steps should taken (primarily by others) to close it. The WSIS exposed a yawning credibility gap between the developed countries that didn’t take the WSIS seriously and the developing countries who made no concrete proposals to do anything of consequence themselves to address the fundamental issues.
The outputs of this first phase of the WSIS (the second will be held in Tunis in November 2005) were a Statement of Principles and a Plan of Action. The principles consisted of a laundry list of declarations that ICTs should be used to benefit everyone in all conceivable ways, and that an international voluntary "Digital Solidarity Fund" should be established to help fund them. The Plan of Action included a list of areas where national policies should be developed, and steps to be taken to prepare proposals for phase 2 of WSIS in Tunis.
Perhaps the most significant is the development of proposals for global Internet governance, and for improvement and innovations of financing mechanisms. The most disappointing aspect of all this was failure to link issues of telecom reform at the national level with improving the environment for attracting foreign investment in network development. Investment was seen essentially as transfers from donors. Market mechanisms, which have been the primary driver of network development in virtually all countries, were largely ignored.
But these issues were being addressed in related meetings associated with the WSIS. The ITU annual Global Symposium for Regulators brought together telecom regulators, mostly from developing countries, to discuss tools and strategies that regulators can use to increase universal access to ICTs and presented a document, "Universal Access Best Practice Guidelines" to the WSIS. This dealt with the more practical steps that regulators can take to facilitate network expansion. Although there is little evidence WSIS paid much attention, as it focused heavily on universal declarations of principle, the more important fact is that many regulators will be better equipped to implement practical steps on the ground at home. In addition, an Indigenous Peoples Summit took place out of the limelight focusing on practical ways they can use ICTs to advantage in their communities.
The largest event was the ICTs-for-Development (ICT4D) program, a civil society forum, trade show and conference with representatives from about 250 organisations from 80 countries, including a diverse array of exhibits and conference sessions. Here a wide range of experiments, research and ideas covering principles, programs and practices were discussed. These included sessions sponsored by WDR supporters infoDev and IDRC, and the launching of a book co-authored by WDR participant Bruce Girard (Communicating in the Information Society, Bruce Girard & Sean O Siochru (Eds), UNRISD, Geneva, 2003). Alison Gillwald and William Melody of WDR participated in sessions focused on policy and regulatory reform as a vehicle for stimulating both market and public investment and Bruce Girard was a course leader for a UNDP/Smithsonian Institute workshop on Multi-Stakeholder Approaches for the Information Society. Among the concrete innovative proposals for action arising from these events is a deeper examination of pro-poor pro-market mechanisms for network expansion and improved access.
It was in these companion events to WSIS that the front line issues of network development were addressed and actionable programs and proposals were shaped. They were not addressing the WDR Dialogue Theme, Stimulating Investment in Network Development: Roles for Regulators, but they were addressing a range of complementary issues and activities for expanding networks and access that will have beneficial effects on the investment environment. If networks are to be extended and access conditions improved to overcome the so-called "digital divide", it will come from the combined activities of these initiatives, WDR and many others, not from WSIS declarations.
William Melody
February 2004
Post your comments on the WDR Dialogue http://regulateonline.org/dialogue/. This question appears under the discussion of the 2003 dialogue theme at http://www.comunica.org/w- agora/view.php?site=wdr&bn=wdr_theme2003&key=1077409008&first=1077409008&last=1044204547
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WDR Case Studies
Research on the WDR Dialogue Theme for 2003, Stimulating Investment in Network Development: Roles for Regulators, has resulted in a series of case studies examining different countries and selected issues. Updated drafts of these studies are now available for critical comment until 15 March. Final versions of these case studies will be part of the WDR Report on the dialogue theme for 2003, which is expected to be available in April 2004.
The studies include, two country studies from Asia (Sri Lanka by Rohan Samarajiva & Anupama Dokeniya, and India by Payal Malik); two from Africa (Ghana by Godfred Frempong & Anders Henten, and Somaliland by Knud Erik Skouby and Reza Tadayoni); and one from Europe (Denmark by Anders Henten). In addition, special papers have been prepared on Cost-based Interconnection Charges, Competition and Investments by Morten Falch, and Regulation and E-commerce in Developing Countries by Robin Mansell.
The papers can be downloaded from the WDR site at http://www.regulateonline.org/2003/dp/ . Please post your comments to the Online Dialogue at: http://www.comunica.org/w-agora/index.php?bn=wdr_casestudies
or email them to
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Shortlisted Themes for WDR Dialogue 2004
The ongoing discussion of the most desirable WDR Dialogue Theme for 2004 has reduced the options to a final shortlist. In light of the failure of WSIS to obtain any direct commitments either to invest in network development or to take specific steps to stimulate it, and the continuing very low levels of actual investment, there is a strong feeling that this issue must remain in the dialogue in some capacity. The final list of options has resulted from the integration of some of the more specialized options. We have decided that the dialogue theme must be seen to be a top priority in all regions of the world, and particularly in developing countries. Ideally it is a generic priority issue that permits detailed examination on very specific aspects in different circumstances. We welcome your views and suggestions on the options below no later than 29 February. Please email them to
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The Multi-dimensions of Access and Participation – to whom and for what?
Clarity is needed on this issue as guidelines to policymakers, regulators and operators in setting priorities. Everyone does not want or need access to everything.
Identify Specific Areas for Regulatory Forbearance and Regulatory Attention
Obsolete regulatory restrictions remain a major barrier to participation in most countries. Providing clarity on regulatory priorities and regulatory withdrawal is needed.
Maximizing Participation in Network and Services Development: Reducing Barriers and Facilitating Opportunities
This provides a very direct link to the WDR 2003 dialogue theme, focusing sharply on network development and including pro-active facilitation of opportunities.
Regulatory Performance Indicators
Regulators have few indicators for measuring their own performance. A clear specification of performance indicators for regulation would lead to improved effectiveness and better decisions by all participants in the sector.
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IEEE Global Access Project
Building on the WDR Dialogue on Stimulating Investment in Network Development: Roles for Regulators, the Subcommittee on Global Access of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Technical Committee of the Information Infrastructure is preparing a new initiative on Global Access for the 21st Century. It is being spearheaded by Robert Walp, Vice-President of the Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC), and former CEO and Chairman of GCI, which brought telecom services to the Alaskan hinterlands.
Although this initiative is still in its formative stages, it has already attracted substantial interest and was a topic of discussion at the recent PTC annual conference in Hawaii. William Melody of WDR and Robert Walp are examining ways to maximize synergy between WDR 2004 and the IEEE initiative. Further details about the initiative will be announced soon. Contact
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.
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New Latin American link for WDR & LIRNE.NET
Following the success of the high-level course on Telecom Reform in Latin America: Regulatory Issues and Implications that LIRNE.NET offered in Guatemala last September in partnership with Regulatel (Latin America's association of national telecom regulators) and the European Independent Regulatory Group, WDR and LIRNE are taking steps to establish a more permanent presence in the region. Amy Mahan, a LIRNE.NET senior researcher, and Bruce Girard, WDR's director of communication strategy, have moved to Uruguay from where they will be building new partnerships with regulators and research institutions in the region.
See the September course at http://lirne.net/training/recent/antigua2003/
Contact WDR and LIRNE.NET in Latin America at
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WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News: Zimbabwe court overturns telecom order
According to a Dow Jones report, a Zimbabwe court reversed a government order granting the state sole control of Zimbabwe's international telecommunications links. The court decision rescinded a government order that gave private communications companies, mobile phone and Internet providers 30 days to route all their connections through state- run Tel-One and the government-owned satellite earth station near Harare. The government order had raised concerns that the government would increase its eavesdropping on international communications.
More information at:
http://www.regulateonline.org/intelecon/2004/February/A-Zimbabwe-040205.htm
WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News archives at:
http://www.regulateonline.org/intelecon/
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Convergence and New Media Seminar at LINK Centre in South Africa
The LINK Centre, Wits University, is offering a post-graduate seminar on Convergence and New Media in Information Societies, 12 Feb – 29 April at the Wits Business School campus, Johannesburg, presented by Vodacom Foundation Visiting Professors William Melody, LIRNE.NET, and Richard Collins, Open University, UK.
WDR News story: http://regulateonline.org/news/newmedia04.htm
Seminar website: http://link.wits.ac.za/training/te18.html
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New Issue of South African Journal
The South African Journal of Information and Communication, published annually by the LINK Centre, Wits University, has released a new issue. It includes articles by William Melody on internet governance, Dale Hatfield on spectrum management reform, Alison Gillwald on telecom reform in South Africa, Gordon Oyomno on the transition to E- government, and Willie Currie, Sean Kane, et al. on VANS markets and e-economy development in South Africa.
More information from http://link.wits.ac.za/journal/journal.html
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Change at infoDev
In January Mostafa Terrab succeeded Bruno Lanvin as Manager of the infoDev program, one of WDR's partner organizations. Terrab brings experience from the private sector, government and academia to the challenging task of pushing back the frontiers of ICT development for developing countries. One of the major challenges he will face will be to develop ways of capturing synergies across the many programs and projects of donors and regulators in order to have the needed dramatic long-term impact on policy and regulatory effectiveness.
Read more at: http://regulateonline.org/news/infodev04.htm
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European Media Technology and Everyday Life Network – Final reports available
The EMTEL (European Media Technology and Everyday Life Network) work programme
emerged from, and contributed significantly to, an increasingly important
body of social scientific work that has as its starting point the need to
address technological and media change as a social process. Led by
Professor Roger Silverstone, Department of Media and Communications,
London School of Economics, the final reports of the network are now
online at http://www.emtel2.org/
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Radio, the Internet and rural development in Latin America
Using broadcast radio in combination with the Internet to effectively and affordably meet information and communication demands of Latin America’s rural poor will be the topic for an international workshop in Quito, Ecuador in April. Organised by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization and Comunica, the meeting will explore ways of supporting and strengthening the role of broadcast radio as a information source. Capacity building, content management, and national level policy and regulation are among the main themes.
More information at http://onda-rural.net/en/ .
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TU Delft Economics of Infrastructures 7th Annual Conference: 27-28 May 2004
The theme of this year's conference will be Network Modernization: The impact of telecom and energy reform on investments and innovation in networks. For more information contact Wolter Lemstra at
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Questions and support
If you have questions about WDR, send them to
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or see the Frequently Asked Questions section in the Online Dialogue.
http://www.regulateonline.org/dialogue/
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Subscribing and Unsubscribing
The WDR e-Brief is a monthly bulletin from the World Dialogue on Regulation for Network Economies - http://www.regulateonline.org . Subscribe from the site or by sending a message to
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Bruce Girard
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edits the e-Brief.
Archives: http://www.comunica.org/w-agora/index.php?bn=wdr_ebrief
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The purpose of the World Dialogue on Regulation is to critically examine ideas and evidence. Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in content appearing on the WDR website, the Online Dialogue and the WDR e-Brief are the personal views of the individuals submitting them. Content does not necessarily reflect the views of LIRNE.NET, infoDev, the World Bank, the International Development Research Centre or any other organisation associated with the World Dialogue on Regulation.
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World Dialogue on Regulation
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